JORDAN: I HAVE NO DOUBTS I WILL BE BACK HERE

Michael Jordan has set the ground rules for his contract negotiations when he becomes a free agent at the end of this season.

"I won't argue. I won't sit here and nit-pick and debate," said Jordan in a candid discussion of his future with the Bulls. "That is one reason I am not even going to put an offer on the table."

Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf says he will wait until this summer before talking in detail publicly about re-signing Jordan. Speculation has been Jordan expects to be paid between $15 million to $25 million a year.

"If it comes down to that point (of acrimony) between us two--who have been together and understood each other's respect for the game and dedication to the game . . . and now we boil down to where we have to argue about it? I am not willing to do that. And, hopefully he's not," said Jordan.

"I believe (Reinsdorf) wants me to be here as much as I want to be here. So I don't have any doubts I will be back here in Chicago."

Magic Johnson said Wednesday he plans to talk with Jordan at the end of the season. Johnson, who also will be a free agent, says his possible move from the Lakers to another team might be dependent on Jordan's strategy. Johnson is said to be interested in playing for former Lakers coach Pat Riley in Miami or with the Knicks if he can't come to terms with the Lakers.

Underpaid? Tuesday night, Jordan scored 33 points (21 in the first period) against the Milwaukee Bucks and their second-year forward Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, who is in the second season of a 10-year, $68-million contract.

"I know what he makes," said Jordan. "I know that, because of the leverage situation, he was able to get more money at this stage of his career. I don't have a problem with that at all. Is he worth it? Evidently so. They are paying that type of money. Am I worth more than him? We'll see."

Hearing set: A hearing with an NFL arbitrator has been scheduled for Friday regarding the Bears' refusal to designate $100,000 a year (for the next four seasons) of Alonzo Spellman's contract for his foundation.

Michael McCaskey met with Spellman Tuesday and talked with his agent, Leigh Steinberg, over the phone on Wednesday. The Bears say the contested amount would be counted against their salary cap. Jacksonville Jaguars vice president Michael Huyghue, whose team tendered the four-year, $12-million offer sheet the Bears matched, has agreed to testify on Spellman's behalf during the hearing.

Bad boys: Who are the 10 biggest jerks in major-league baseball?

According to a poll conducted by Sports Illustrated of newspaper beat writers across the country, lists of the 10 biggest jerks and 10 nicest guys were compiled and will appear in a more controversial-than-usual SI Baseball Preview issue on newsstands next Monday.

Here are their 10 biggest jerks, in order: 1. Albert Belle of the Indians; 2. Barry Bonds of the Giants; 3. Steve Howe of the Yankees; 4. Chuck Carr of the Brewers; 5. Kevin Brown of the Marlins; 6. Lenny Dykstra of the Phillies; 7. Will Clark of the Rangers; 8. Eddie Murray of the Indians; 9. Danny Jackson of the Cardinals; and 10. Bip Roberts of the Royals.

The 10 nicest (beginning with the most accommodating): 1. Tony Gwynn of the Padres; 2. Paul Molitor of the Twins; 3. Mo Vaughn of the Red Sox; 4. Dennis Eckersley of the Cardinals; 5. Jim Eisenreich of the Phillies; 6. Barry Larkin of the Reds; 7. Lee Smith of the Angels; 8. Tom Glavine of the Braves; 9. Carlos Baerga of the Indians; and 10. Cal Ripken of the Orioles.

Casino? The Gila River Indian tribe may be willing to use gambling revenues to build a football stadium for the Arizona Cardinals on its reservation south of Phoenix. Tribal spokeswoman Carole Jackson says representatives of the tribe and the Cardinals have been meeting for about two months to discuss building a stadium on a 500-acre site near the tribe's Wild Horse Pass Casino.

If the deal goes through, the result would be a stadium-casino-raceway attraction that would lure a variety of people to the reservation, about 20 minutes south of Phoenix.

Jackson said the Cardinals approached the tribe with the idea, and the tribe is "certainly interested." A stadium could "enhance our economic development without depending solely upon gaming," she said.

Battle scars: Chicago attorney Gil Gordon, who is representing San Diego Chargers safety Shaun Gayle in a worker's compensation case against the Bears, already has won more than $700,000 in similar cases against the Bears on behalf of former players Tom Thayer, Keith Van Horne, John Wojciechowski and Mark Bortz.

Local scuttlebutt: Bulls coach Phil Jackson and assistant Jim Cleamons plotted Tuesday night's victory over Milwaukee during an IBM Chalk Talk at Moretti's Restaurant (1645 W. Jackson) earlier in the evening. . . . Sportsman's Park is offering a series of free handicapping classes this spring. Those interested must register this weekend (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) in the new handicapping center.